Imagine that your family wakes up to that precious snow day you have been anticipating all week, school is out, work is canceled, and all is right with the world. You may spend some time outside in the morning, but it eventually gets too cold before long! You will need indoor and outdoor activities that can carry the whole family throughout the day.
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Living Room Camp
Set up a living room fort for cozy activities, snacks, and movies. When everyone's home mid-week, it's a chance to spend genuine time together instead of going your separate ways. Open the curtains for a view of the gorgeous snow! Get the kids involved by letting each one choose a ‘camp rule.'
Snow Coloring
Take a spray bottle or squirt bottle, water, and food coloring to your liking, and let the kids go crazy making snow art. Your yard is a blank canvas for art that will simply wash away when it melts. Think of it as winter's sidewalk chalk! Keep in mind that food coloring can stain clothing, so plan accordingly and consider squirt bottles, which are easier for smaller hands to control. Gloves keep little hands warm and dye-free.
Bake All the Things
A warm, savory sourdough loaf, fresh, soft cookies, or a personal pizza are all kid-friendly options that older children can help with, and the littles can enjoy. This activity requires some planning, as you need the right ingredients beforehand to avoid the dangers of driving in snow. When stocking up for winter fun, ensure you have not only quick meal and snack standbys but also baking essentials to keep the whole family entertained.
Shovel Driveways for Neighbors
If your kids are old enough, have the family put on warm clothes, grab shovels, and head outside to help neighbors clear driveways or sidewalks. Assign adults to supervise, watch for safety hazards, and keep everyone together. Use the snow you clear to build a snowman as a fun reward after completion.
Bring the Snow Inside
Fill a plastic bin with clean snow and bring it inside. Lay down towels to catch any melting snow. Set out monster trucks and sand-digging tools for your children to use in the snow tub. You can refresh the bin with new snow or hide small toys for kids to find as a treasure hunt.
Create a Snow Maze
Get the whole family involved with forging a path in the snow and creating a maze that can become an obstacle course for toy play or a foot race to the finish line. Deeper snow can make this more fun and challenging, but almost all amounts can be suitable for this activity. Just make sure that the kids are visible at all times to maintain safe play.
Build an Indoor Obstacle Course
Take fort building to the next level with taped-off sections, rearranged furniture, and blankets galore for an obstacle course your kids will want to do over and over. Safety is essential, so make sure that no stairs or other sharp surfaces are involved. If one course is getting stale, have each child take turns changing the layout. Host an award ceremony before bed to cap off the evening!
Build Snow Creatures
The classic snowman has nothing on the creatures that your family can create. Think: a giant spider, a cat or dog, snakes, or a miniature horse. Your yard is a zoo of possibilities! Consider expiring products in your fridge or nearby foliage for accessories. Passers-by will surely get a kick out of your family's creativity.
Dance and Sing-Along Party
One of the best ways to combat the lack of outdoor time is a dance party to expend energy, get creativity flowing, and keep spirits lifted. Up the ante with dancing and singing contests, and if your children are theatrically inclined, let them create a play or skit with an evening showtime.
Snow Bubbles
Mix warm water, corn syrup, sugar, and dish soap to create freezable bubbles. Let the solution cool outside, then blow bubbles onto soft snow. In cold, calm weather, bubbles will freeze and form crystals!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon corn syrup
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons clear dish soap
Let your imagination run wild!